2014 World Cup qualifying

[ArdeeBhoy]

Would have preferred they didn't.

Given Australia's not in Asia. And denies another team from there a rightful place.
​And yes, know they're part of that federation...

[pineapple stu]

Qatar 1-0 away to Uzbekistan while South Korea and Iran are 0-0 at half time. Means it's the play-off for Uzbekistan, but still hope for automatic qualification if they can turn their game around.


Would have preferred they didn't.

Given Australia's not in Asia. And denies another team from there a rightful place.

Meh. They played in Asia till 1982 anyway, and even then they tended to have Israel or Taipei, neither of whom are Oceania. Not a major issue really.

[DeLorean]

I don't mind that they've qualified as I'd have more interest in their games than Oman's. I do mind that they qualify by winning three games out of eight against mostly minnows, whereas we lost out last time because we couldn't top a group with the World Cup holders or beat the runners-up in a playoff.

[pineapple stu]

Iran 1-0 up in South Korea. So Uzbekistan now need 7 goals in the last 25 minutes to overtake South Korea on goal difference and qualify.

[pineapple stu]

Equaliser for Uzbekistan. Just 6 more to go now!

[IsMiseSean]

I'm guessing the standard between Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan is pretty similiar although there is nearly 100 places between them in the FIFA rankings.
They're also similiar Geographically.
Wouldn't the Kazaks have a better chance of qualifying for the WC if they played in Asia? Why did they switch?

[Charlie Darwin]

I'm guessing the standard between Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan is pretty similiar although there is nearly 100 places between them in the FIFA rankings.
They're also similiar Geographically.
Wouldn't the Kazaks have a better chance of qualifying for the WC if they played in Asia? Why did they switch?
It didn't work out too well (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(AFC)#Group_6) for them the last time. Kazakhs, by all accounts, identify as European and want to play their football here.

[pineapple stu]

I'm guessing the standard between Uzbekistan & Kazakhstan is pretty similiar
I'd say so, though it's hard to tell really. Last time Kazakhstan were in Asia (2002), they were knocked out by Iraq, but fairly matched them in the groups. In 1998, they got to the final round, finishing joint-bottom with Uzbekistan. I'd say both have improved since then. That's guesswork really though.

3-1 Uzbekistan now. 4 more needed! Or 2 and a Korea equaliser. I'd say Korea and Iran are happy with what they have though.

[pineapple stu]

4-1 now. Looking all in vain though. Though they just need a South Korea equaliser now; I think I mis-counted earlier.

[pineapple stu]

5-1! "Just" two short of Korea now, who have lost.

Though wiki has them in second and qualified, presumably on head-to-head? I thought it was GD that counted first?

Edit - has to be a wiki error; they drew and lost to Korea.

Edit edit - 5-1 result now. Wiki now saying Uzbekistan have qualified, but I still think it's wrong?

[JC_GUFC]

Judging by the reactions after the match it would have come down to GD (otherwise Korea would have already officially qualified before today) - had Uzbekistan won 7-1 they'd have jumped above Korea.

There was obviously a lot of tension on the benches as instead of a handshake Carlos Quiros (manager of Iran) he was just shouting abuse at the Koreans. I'd imagine he expected Korea to settle for the 1-0 loss which would have seen them both through, unless Uzbekistan managed the 7-1 win, but Korea really pushed for an equaliser and very nearly did with a header in the 93 minute, that would have dropped Iran into the playoffs.

[pineapple stu]

Yeah, wiki's changed. Korea and Iran through.

[IsMiseSean]

It didn't work out too well (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification_(AFC)#Group_6) for them the last time. Kazakhs, by all accounts, identify as European and want to play their football here.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say they're probably a better team now than in 2002.
Just thinking back to September when we played Kazakhstan & Oman. The Kazakhs looked a better side than Oman, who are still in the hunt to qualify at least until 7pm this evening.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well yeah but would they be a better team if they hadn't left Asia?

[ArdeeBhoy]

Fair point.

And however much we begrudge the Aussies, they probably did it the harder way.

[Charlie Darwin]

Well it looks like the winner of Oceania (New Zealand) will have to face either Mexico or Honduras for a place in the World Cup. I'd imagine it's easier to win one of the 5 spots in Asia.

[pineapple stu]

Jordan 1-0 Oman. So Jordan v Uzbekistan in the play-offs for the right to play the 5th place in South America (currently Uruguay)

[IsMiseSean]

Well yeah but would they be a better team if they hadn't left Asia?

That's a good point. I never thought of that...

[thischarmingman]

1-0 Australia; 83 minutes. :(
Some craic, serious bricking going in during injury time. Cahill not impressed to be subbed off, until the sub scored the winning goal.

http://i.imgur.com/Sh2YvV7l.jpg

[bennocelt]

Fair point.

And however much we begrudge the Aussies, they probably did it the harder way.


The Aussies played some good football the last two world cups, so I am glad they will be at the party next year:)

[pineapple stu]

America stumble on; 1-0 winners at home against Honduras, with the only goal in the 73rd minute. Six points clear of the play-offs now with four games to go; fairly odds-on to qualify now, though it looks like they may well be making up the numbers.

Costa Rica 2-0 Panama as well; big blow for Panama, whose last two games are home to America and away to Mexico.

[Dodge]

America stumble on;

That's pretty harsh considering they've now won 4 of 5 and the 5th was a draw in Mexico City.

[pineapple stu]

It's the manner of their campaign though. Or I suppose in particular, their away form - an injury-time win in Antigua, a draw in Guatemala and a defeat in Jamaica in the last round. In the Hex, defeat in Honduras, an injury-time win in Jamaica and a draw in Mexico (not a bad result in fairness). There's 1-0 home wins against Jamaica, Honduras and Costa Rica in all that as well. Klinsmann's been getting a fair bit of criticism for the performances, apparently.

That said, they were dodgy in 2010 as well, and topped England's group, so maybe I am being a bit harsh. Time will tell.

[BonnieShels]

It's the manner of their campaign though. Or I suppose in particular, their away form - an injury-time win in Antigua, a draw in Guatemala and a defeat in Jamaica in the last round. In the Hex, defeat in Honduras, an injury-time win in Jamaica and a draw in Mexico (not a bad result in fairness). There's 1-0 home wins against Jamaica, Honduras and Costa Rica in all that as well. Klinsmann's been getting a fair bit of criticism for the performances, apparently.

That said, they were dodgy in 2010 as well, and topped England's group, so maybe I am being a bit harsh. Time will tell.

Any opportunity to use this again:

http://www.insanerantings.com/mbimages/sun_easy_worldcup.jpg

[Metrostars]

It's the manner of their campaign though. Or I suppose in particular, their away form - an injury-time win in Antigua, a draw in Guatemala and a defeat in Jamaica in the last round. In the Hex, defeat in Honduras, an injury-time win in Jamaica and a draw in Mexico (not a bad result in fairness). There's 1-0 home wins against Jamaica, Honduras and Costa Rica in all that as well. Klinsmann's been getting a fair bit of criticism for the performances, apparently.

That said, they were dodgy in 2010 as well, and topped England's group, so maybe I am being a bit harsh. Time will tell.
The previous round doesnt really matter. Klinsmann was doing a lot of chopping and changing and trying different formations that didn't really work. It didn't look great either after they lost the first game of the Hex in Honduras but since then they've improved a lot, winning 4 and drawing in the Azteca which was a great result. The team looks a lot more settled now and they really should have won by more last night. Altidore is doing well, he's scored in the last 4 games. They probably need just a 2-3 more points from the last 4 games to qualify.

I think the bigger story out of Concacaf is Mexico. There was a lot of expectations with them winning the Olympics and while they will still probably qualify for the WC, they are not playing well, no goals in 3 home games in the Hex.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Mexico and the US both appear to be unconvincing.

Now where have I heard that before...

[pineapple stu]

And on that note -

Both Mexico and the US lost last night; home to Honduras and away to Costa Rica respectively. Mexico fortunate Panama couldn't beat Jamaica at home otherwise they'd be fifth in the Hex. As it is, they're now two points off Honduras with three games to go and, as it stands, facing a play off against New Zealand. Mexico travel to the US on Tuesday.

Jordan and Uzbekistan drew 1-1 last night in the Asian play-off. Return leg in Tashkent is on Tuesday. Winner faces the fifth-placed team in South America. No major surprises there; Venezuela lost 3-0 in Chile and look to be out. Suarez scored twice for Uruguay; they move ahead of Venezuela into the play-off spot with a game in hand. Argentina and Colombia are all but qualified.

In Africa, Zambia lost in Ghana and are out; Ghana go through to the play-offs. The rest of the games are on today.

Europe is quite weird this year. Holland needed an injury-time penalty to draw 2-2 in Estonia. Iceland came from 4-1 down to draw 4-4 in Switzerland. The North were 2-1 up on Portugal for a while, but two red cards and a Ronaldo hat-trick ended that. One point separates Bulgaria, Denmark, the Czechs and Armenia in Group B, though Armenia are the only ones who don't have to play Malta. Greece won 1-0 in Liechtenstein with a 72nd-minute goal; they were reduced to ten men before the hour, but then Liechtenstein had a guy sent off; they could have held on otherwise. France drew in Georgia and face the play-offs. Montenegro are fading in England's group, but Ukraine are improving - 9-0 winners against San Marino, and if they can beat England in Kiev on Tuesday, they'll be favourites for the group. England, like us in recent years, have only been able to beat the bottom seeds.

[geysir]

Some god awful defending by Iceland in Berne last evening but they managed to reduce 'Hop Suisse' to a miserable whiny whimper by the end and get a gubu rated 4-4 draw.
The team is lop sided, an abundance of very good players at midfield/strikers but unfortunately local league standard defenders.

Classy 90th min equalising goal from a young midfielder who hit a stunning hatrick on the night.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhOOxdN1P4Q

[pineapple stu]

Half time in Africa group A and Ethiopia - who qualified for the play-offs and then had a win turn into a defeat - are now looking at elimination. 1-0 down away to the Central African Republic while South Africa are 1-0 up against Botswana.

Ethiopia need to win to go through; I don't think a draw'll be enough for them (assuming it comes down to goal difference in the event of teams being level on points)

[pineapple stu]

2-0 South African now. All down to Ethiopia.

[pineapple stu]

Ethiopia equalise. Still need one more; 25 minutes to go.

[pineapple stu]

2-1 Ethiopia; five minutes to go!

Botswana pull one back too. Proper nail-biting finish now. Ethiopia through as it stands; South Africa out.

[geysir]

The only game today in the UEFA zone is the Israel v Azerbaijan match, obviously scheduled to beat the sabbath. I didn't think religious dogmas still held absolute influence over international football fixtures. but Israel are still avoiding scheduling games during the sabbath period.

[pineapple stu]

2-1 result; Ethiopia through.

[pineapple stu]

Cape Verde 2-0 up in Tunisia at half-time! They need to win that to pip Tunisia to a play-off spot. Nigeria beat Malawi in another winner-takes-all tie; the third is Senegal v Uganda at 9pm.

Burkina Faso are through as well, pipping Congo, who only drew in Niger.

So currently it's -

Ethiopia
Cape Verde (if they hold on)
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Burkina Faso
Nigeria
Egypt
Algeria
Cameroon or Libya (who meet in Cameroon tomorrow)
Senegal or Uganda

[pineapple stu]

Cape Verde are through so, despite losing their first three group games. The third defeat - 4-3 in Equatorial Guinea - was later awarded as a 3-0 win, and they won their last three games to top the group.

Senegal v Uganda is still 0-0 into the last 15 minutes, though Uganda have been down to ten men for a good 45 minutes now. Looking unlikely they'll get they win they need to go through, but you never know.

[Charlie Darwin]

Zayed starting for Libya in Cameroon: http://nutjob.eu/njtvx16.html

[pineapple stu]

Lost 1-0; Cameroon through.

[geysir]

The Euro qualifier outcomes are becoming more clear
Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Spain are there


Russia and Switz hot favourites for their groups.


Group G is a slug fest between Greece and Bosnia
Bosnia blew a great chance to take control of the group by losing at home to Slovakia and now have to play them away on Tuesday, if Bosnia win they would be hot favourites to top the group. Anything less for Bosnia puts Greece firmly in control.


Group H: Montenegro's chances have slipped since that defeat by Ukraine.
Even if Ukraine beat England and go hot favourites to top the group, England should still finish ahead of Montenegro for 2nd place.
Montenegro's achievements are miraculous when you consider their population and resources but no surprise when you saw how they played against us and Italy all those years ago.

[JC_GUFC]

Jordan beat Uzbekistan 9-8 on penalties to win the Asian playoff - they will play-off against the 5th placed South American team.

Tonight's European results confirmed Italy and Holland as the first European Qualifiers.

[geysir]

Switzerland join Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Spain as group winners.
Russia remain hot favourites, Bosnia now hot favourites to beat Greece to top their group.

One can hope that Montenegro topple England off their delicate perch.

[pineapple stu]

Can't see it unfortunately. Best hope is for England to draw at home to either Poland or Montenegro (Montenegro need to beat England; unlikely) and Ukraine then beat Poland and San Marino. That's quite possible given how England have been playing; they've still only beaten Moldova and San Marino. But England should still be favourites to win the group now after last night's result.

[geysir]

No doubt England are favourites to top the group. It will be of great interest to see Montenegro at Wembley in a pressure game, on occasions in the recent past, their inexperience at this level has been one factor which has let them down, but by now I suspect they may have hardened after taking the knocks.

After losing at home to Switzerland, Driilo the 'legendary' Norwegian coach walked out of a post match tv interrogation in the tunnel, by a particularly obnoxious interviewer. The slime ball, who's not fit to lick the condensation from inside Drillo's wellies, was fortunate that a mean looking Drillo (who looked as if he would peel strips off Clint Eastwood), didn't clock him right there in front of a watching nation.

TV2 interview with Drillo (http://www.tv2.no/play/sport/fotball/her-avbryter-sur-drillo-tv-2-intervju-753974.html)

[pineapple stu]

USA 2-0 Mexico; the US and Costa Rica have qualified, while Mexico are now fifth (behind Panama on goals scored) and out of the qualification spots entirely with two games to go. Mexico's next game is home to Panama; winner-takes-all there.

Argentina have also qualified after beating Paraguay 5-2. Venezuela are all but out despite beating Peru 3-2, so the top five are pretty much certain at this stage, with the only issue who ends up in the play-off against Jordan (who beat Uzbekistan 9-8 on penalties). Ecuador and Uruguay are level on points in 4th/5th, and play in Quito in the next round.

[DannyInvincible]

Switzerland join Belgium, Italy, Germany, Netherlands and Spain as group winners.

Switzerland aren't mathematically home and dry just yet. You need to pay more attention to your group. :)

[geysir]

Odds of 1/33 on Switzerland is mathematical enough for me Danny.
I feel good for Switzerland now, since they have embarked on a mission to scuttle the ambitions of Iceland's opponents.
Hop Suisse, I say.

[Charlie Darwin]

Cape Verde thrown out for fielding an ineligible player against Tunisia: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2172738/

[DannyInvincible]

Cape Verde thrown out for fielding an ineligible player against Tunisia: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2172738/

Does the transgression and resulting forfeit of their game against Tunisia give us a slim chance of overtaking them in the FIFA rankings again?

[pineapple stu]

Aw no...

Yet fitting in a way, given how they got to be in the play-offs in the first place.

[ArdeeBhoy]

Who replaces Cape Verde?